Trump’s State of the Union is a fantasy
It’s probably the most famous truism attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Lincolnwas right. But Donald Trump tried hard to “fool all the people all the time” lastweek in what the media still blindly labeled a “State of the Union” speech.
Let’s start right there. I’ve covered every State of theUnion address since Ronald Reagan’s first, in January 1982. Whateverwe experienced on Tuesday, Feb. 4, itwas no State of theUnion speech. Itwas a combination political campaign rally— complete with chants of “FourMore Years!” by lapdog Republican senators— and reality TV show, programmed by today’s orange-haired P.T. Barnum himself with every corny magic trick he could pull out of his hat.
The showreeked of braggadocio, exaggeration, and self-back-slapping. The only thing lackingwas the truth. In fact, in 78 minutes, Trump probably told 78 lies, about one a minute. Admittedly, the lies gushed out of Trump so fast it was hard to keep track of them. But here, to refresh your memory, are just a few of the real doozies.
On the economy. Among the first words out of his mouthwere these: “The years of economic decay are over.” False! We’ve enjoyed 11 straight years of economic recovery— but eight of those yearswere under President Obama. Far from “economic decay,” Trump inherited a robust economy. True, he’s kept the recovery going, but itwas Obama who rescued the country fromthe 2008 recession and put uswell down the recovery road.
On health care. Trump crowed: “I will always protect patients with preexisting conditions.” False! At this very moment, the Trump administration is in court, joining a lawsuit brought by several red-state attorneys general, to overturn the entire Affordable Care Act, including that all-important provision requiring insurance companies to offer health insurance to patients with preexisting conditions.
On energy. Trump bragged: “Thanks to our bold regulatory reduction campaign, theUnited States has become the No. 1 producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in theworld, by far.” False! Yes, we are the top producer of oil and natural gas. But, according to the Energy Information Administration, theU.S. became theworld’s top oil producer in 2013 and the leading natural gas producer in 2009. I guess Trump forgot to add: “Thanks, Obama.”
On prescription drugs. Trump repeated a claim he first made last year: “For the first time in 51 years, the cost of prescription drugs actuallywent down.” Itwas false when he first said it, and it’s still false. According toMedical Life SciencesNews, prices of 4,311 prescription drugs actuallywent up last year. And in the first month of 2020, 2,519 drugs have already increased prices.
And that’s just for starters. Bottom line: You can’t believe aword this president of theUnited States says. Please read that again: You can’t believe aword this president of theUnited States says. Explain that to your children. Then consider what that means for the state of our union.
But, as bad and plentiful as theywere, Trump’s pack of liesweren’t theworst part of Trump’s three-ring circus. By far the lowest and most disgusting point was his awarding the coveted PresidentialMedal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, who represents the veryworst, not the best, of America.
For decades, Rush has been the voice of racism on talk radio. Hewas Trump before Trump. He’s specialized in tauntingwomen, people of color and the disabled. He slammed female activists as “feminazis.” He called Georgetown Lawstudent Sandra Fluke a “slut” and “prostitute” for supporting birth control legislation. He mocked Barack Obama as “Barack theMagicNegro” and promoted the birther theory that Obama wasn’t born in theUnited States.
Since itwas created by President John F. Kennedy, many outstanding individuals have received the PresidentialMedal of Freedom, including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Colin Powell, and Billy Graham. Lung cancer or not, the hatespewing Rush Limbaugh doesn’t deserve to be in their company.
Put it thisway. Therewere two men in theHouse Chamber that night: Rush Limbaugh and the brave 100-year-old Tuskegee Airman CharlesMcGee. The wrong onewent homewearing the PresidentialMedal of Freedom.